Sheet-feeding mechanism



1 646,117 1927' E. R. SMITH ET AL SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 4, 1922 Patented Oct. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN R. SMITH, WILLIAM R. RICE, AND JOHN R. JACKSON, OF FITCHBURG, MAS$A- CHUSE'ITS, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO FEDERAL ADDRESSING MA- CHINE CORPORATION, OF BUFFALO IQ'EN YORK. A CORPORATION.

SHEETFEEDI1 IG I/IECHANIE-EI.

Original application filed November 4, 1922, Serial No, 599,122.

September 29, 1924.

This application i a division of our prior application on addressing machine, F erial No. 599,122, filed Nov. 4. 1922 and relates particularly to the sheet feeding mechanism 5 therein shown and described.

It is the object of our invention to pro vide mechanism for feeding envelopes. paper sheets or o her similar article; to printing or addressing machin'c': so di ied that it will release the artic es sins l i and sit cessively to ruitahle conveying novice A particular feature of our nvention rclates to means for agitating he envelopes in the feed box or chute and for giving them initial advance movement toward die livery position.

()ur invention further relates to arrangements and combinations of part5; wh ch will he hereinafter described and more partieslarly pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings in which Fig. 1 i: a sectional side elevation of our improved feeding inechaninn: and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view, taken along: the line 2 2 in Fig. 1.

Referring t the drawings we have shown certain part of an addressing machine in eluding a table 20 and a continuously driven feed shaft 48 on which are mounted feeding: rolls 49 (Fig. 2) which are each provided with pads 5 of rubber or other friction material extending over a portion only of the periphery thereof.

The rolls 4%) are located adjacent the lower end of an inclined feed box or chute comprising a. bottom 51, sides 52 and a curved top and end plate 53. The envelope: ll pl ced in the feed box descend by gravity to the position indicated in Fig. L at which point the lowest envelope is advanced between the roll 45) and the curved end of the plate where it ei'igagred by the friction pad; 50. A series of retarding rolis 54* are mounted on a shaft above and closely ad jacent the rolls 49. The :haft 5:, is positively driven flOll'l the shaft "l9 by a chain and sprockets (not shown). The adjacent surfaces of the rolls 4'9 and Zr-l thus move oppositely and the upper rolls 5 t act to brush back or retard any extra envelope ad vanced by the feed rolls 49.

Divided and this application filed Serial No. 7LGA42.

In order to asxist the advance movement of the l wer envelopes toward the feed rolls, we have provided an agitating device com prising a pad or block (30 (Fig. l) mounted on an arm 61 pivoted at 62 and intermit tently engaged by a cam (33 (Fig. 2) on the feed shaft The block (it) thus repeatedly engages the envelopes in the feed box, forcing them slightly back ard and upward and then eleas them FO that the lowermost envelope may be easily advanced by gravity to the feed rolls,

A; each envelope is delivered singly by the rolls if), it is received between conveyor belts (3-1 and 63. The upper belts 64 are supported on driving pulleys on fixed to a cross shaft 8 which is driven from the feed shaft, ti. The lower belts 65 are mounted on driving! pulleys TL, fast on a cross shaft 73. The shaft 73 is connected by gearing: (not, shown) to the upper conveyor shaft 68. By these connections, the upper and lower belts are continuously driven at the same speed.

5y the construction shown, we provide a delinite and accurate delivery of envelope: or other similar articles singly to an addressing or printing machine or for any other desired purpose. The provision of the agitating device is found to greatly improve the operationof the machine and to reduce the chances of a double delivery.

Having thus described our invention and the ad 'antag'es thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclo ed other rise than as set forth in the claims, but what we claim isz- 1. In an envelope addressing machine, an inclined feed box having a bottom partially open at its lo er edge, a feed roll rotatable adjacent said open portion and intermittcntly presenting a friction surface effective to withdraw an envelope from said box, a retarding roll mounted above said feed roll, means to rotate said rolls so that the adjacent faces thereof move in opposite directions, and means to agitate the envelopes in said box to facilitate downward feeding thereof.

In an envelope addressing machine, an inclined feed box having a bottom partially open at its lower edge, a feed roll rotatable adjacent said open portion and int rmittently presenting a friction surface effective to withdraw an envelope from said box, a retarding roll mounted above said feed roll, means to rotate said rolls so that the adjacent faces thereof move in opposite directions, a member extending through the lower end of the box and means to alternately raise and release said member to agitate the envelopes in said box.

3. In an envelope addressing machine, an inclined feed box having its lower end partially open, a driven shaft, a feed roll mounted on said shaft rotatable adjacent said open portion and intermittently presenting a friction surface effected to withdraw an envelope from said box, yielding member extending into the lower end of said box and means mounted on the feed roll shaft to alternately raise and release said member to agitate the envelopes in said box.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto afiixed our signatures.

EDWIN B. SMITH. WILLIAM R. RICE. JOHN R. JACKSON. 

